Kisses and Lies

I Couldn’t Put It Down!

Kisses and Lies
By Lauren Henderson
Pub. Date: January 2009
5 out of 5 stars
PG-13 - Violence, Sensuality, and Profanity
Recommended

Scarlett is still haunted by her first kiss, six months ago. That night, Dan suffered a fatal allergic reaction and died in Scarlett’s arms. That terrible memory is never far from her thoughts. Determined to solve the mystery of Dan’s murder, Taylor and Scarlett begin to gather clues. Their dauntless search for the truth intensifies when Scarlett arrives at Dan’s family’s castle. Hidden motives, Entail loopholes, birthday cakes, and shotguns all lurk in the shadows. Scarlett only has a few days left to unravel the mystery… before someone else gets hurt…

Kisses and Lies was show more completely absorbing and realistic fiction at its best. I couldn’t put it down! The plot’s twists, turns, and backtracking were believable and kept me on my toes and dancing. Every clue aroused new suspensions.

The venerable characters were extremely easy to get attached to. I had every confidence that Scarlett and Taylor would figure it out, but I couldn’t help but gasp or ooh or aah quite often. Not only were they good people they were also very versatile at locating, researching, and distributing information. I never wanted to stop cheering for them.

This is one of the first times a book had an understandable love triangle that wasn’t outrageous or shallow. Jase was charming and Callum saved his smiles for special occasions. Both boys had pros and cons/ attractions and put offs.

Please let there be a third book! I dearly want to know what happens to Scarlett and her complicated relationships. I know Scarlett’s life goes on, and I want to be there for it.

Date Reviewed: April 9th, 2009

For more book reviews and book information check out my blog at www.inthecurrent.blogspot.com show less

This is a fun little series and far more interesting than it's (poorer) counterpart, Pretty Little Liars. The characters are far more interesting, the plot strong and the resolution perfect. There might be frustrating moments when Scarlett or the other teens in the novel are frustrating, but I don't really mind because I know that Henderson will sort it out. I'm really glad she resolved the main plot in this book, now I can look forward to the third one without the murder issue hanging over Scarlett's head. Henderson also added, much to my surprise (and a tiny bit of delight) a bit of romantic angst to the resolution and, well, it was a very nice ending.

A Warning: Don't read this book unless you have read Kiss Me Kill Me, the prequel! You will be very confused!

Kisses and Lies picked right up where Kiss Me Kill Me left off. There is a small recap from the previous book but not enough in my option to skip the first book. Scarlett and Taylor have become great friends and are determined as ever to solve Dan's murder. In my opinion all the really good stuff happens in this book and Kiss Me Kill Me is just the set-up for all of this to happen! A whole family of new characters of introduced, lengthening the suspect list greatly. Some of the situations are humorous while others are deadly serious, but all the while a great time to read! Also, Scarlett and Jase's relationship starts to blossom, show more not without its problems.

For me the best part of the book is when Scarlett goes to Scotland and meets Dan's family. Man was a group, and what a castle. You don't know who to trust or where you are safe or if Scarlett is going to be stuck going round and round in circles around the castle before finding the stairs! This was my kind of mystery! It did get a bit wonky towards the ending and I have to admit I sort of guessed who the killer was after a bit, but it was still great fun and I never knew what was going to happen next! The ending of this book is much more satisfying than the first book's ending but it definitely sets it up for a third book. Which in my opinion looks like it could be rather good and hopefully involving a love triangle or two! show less

(spoilers)
Fun, fun, fun. Scarlet is still investigating Dan's murder, working with PI-in-training Taylor, and just maybe having something with Jase. As she finds out more about Dan's family background, it looks like his murder may have more to do with this family life than his school life.
I really enjoyed this, and I was delighted that Dan's murder is resolved at the end - and a teeny bit glad to see that there is stills cope for more story about these characters. Again it was Scarlett's relationship with Taylor that I most enjoyed, together they are a delightful pair.

Kisses and Lies was just as good and possibly even better than its predecessor. Also a big recommendation, read the series in order. You don’t always have to do that, but I highly suggest with this series that you do. If you remember my review from Kiss Me Kill Me, you’ll recall that I had a few problems with the plot, but not enough to keep me from liking the novel. This time I had some major issues with the plot, but somehow I still found the book entertaining. Major issue number one. Yes, Scarlett I know you are a freaggin orphan. You say that is doesn’t bother you, because you barely remember your parents they died when you were so young, yet you won’t stop bitching about it. Another annoying Scarlett habit is her constant show more questioning of Taylor. Am I depending on Taylor to much... yada, yada, yada... this part seriously annoyed me so much... it’s pissing me off just writing about it. On top of those two less than stellar Scarlett moments, I also found Scarlett doing things that I found very out of character for her, maybe it was just me. Major issue number two. I understand the need for Scarlett to go to Castle Airlie, which was Dan’s home, so she can solve the big mystery and all, but I hate the way of her invitation. I mean seriously. She writes a letter to Dan’s parents basically inviting herself, because it might help with closure. Oh and that she has something of his that she would like to give back, which is a lie. Let’s examine the relationship between Dan and Scarlett, shall we? That’s right there wasn’t one! It was a one night stand! Not even that, it was more like a ten-second frencher! What could she possibly know about their son, to give them some kind of closure? And why would they invite her to spend the holiday with them....? Then of course there is a big revelation about Dan, which I have to say I wasn’t really all that surprised. There were some twists that did get me, and I think that is what ultimately made up the novel for me. Apparently there were times where I found the novel to be imperfect, but don’t let that overshadow the fact that I still found the novel to be very alluring. The unique characters and Henderson’s writing, make up for my few annoyances. There was one more thing I wanted to address that was bothering me, but really has nothing to do with the novel itself, but the character Taylor. I really love her character, she is really unique. But I was appalled to see some of the comments made about her in other reviews. Taylor is not a girly girl, she likes to work out, she has muscles, she’s tough as nails. So obviously that means she is a lesbian. WHAT? Yes, it seems that everyone thinks that Taylor must be a lesbian because she has muscles and doesn’t go around crying when she breaks a nail. Let me just start off by saying that I really don’t care if she does end up being a lesbian, more power to her, but don’t condemn that on her, because of a stereotype. Come on people, I expect more from you. And now I step down from my soap-box. show less

I was a little happier with the characters in the sequel, but they still fell a little flat. I still was not a fan of Scarlett - she just didn't feel quite right, not as cool as Veronica Mars as she could have been. She definitely tried to be, but I must be a tough egg to crack.

The plot went better in kisses and lies, but it started to turn into more of a soap opera. Which is not a bad thing, but it's not a super-awesome thing either. Whereas the first book did not have a lot happening, the sequel just overflowed with plot twists!

I like how this book started right back in to the mystery of who killed Dan. Scarlett and Taylor are already into trouble by chapter three.
Half way through the book it picked up and the pages flew by. Scarlett ends up going and staying with Dan's family after she writes them a letter saying she has something of Dan's to return and wants to talk with them. When she gets there everyone is nice to her except Callum-Dan's twin brother that Scarlett didn't know about- and Lucy, Callum's girlfriend. Callum doesn't like her because he thinks she had something to do with Dan's death. And Lucy doesn't like her because she is jealous of her and Callum. Lucy wants to run the castle with Callum and they need to get married so that is why Lucy show more doesn't like Scarlett and shoots at her one day in the woods. Scarlett doesn't know it was Lucy until the end of the book.
I had figured out who the killer was around page 230. But it was still a shock at the end and how it played out.
I wish that Scarlett and Callum's relationship would have went farther. After Scarlett left to go to stay with Dan's family, Jase wasn't' really mentioned and I was really rooting for Scarlett and Callum. I understand the whole them not being together because of all that they had been through with Dan and the killer, but to me it would have been perfect because they could have helped each other through everything.
I hope there is another book after this one. I am thinking not since the killer was already identified. But the way the book ended it was left open at the end, either in the way for you to make up your own ending on where Jase and Scarlett's relationship goes and how Plum and Scarlett get along now that Plum is going to Scarlett's school now. Or if their will be more book and more mysteries for Scarlett and Taylor to solve. I am hoping more books since I want Scarlett to get with Callum. :) show less